Home Decor - Just Swap the Pillow (covers)I'm terrible at decorating my design, so I normally don't do it at all, or get some professional advice. The first option leads to a very boring house and the second option puts a dent in the pocketbook. Enter Etsy and Pillow Covers - one way to quickly bri...

Handmade Greeting CardsYou see handmade greeting cards everywhere, craft shows, coffee shops, online and more. They 'look' simple - just glue some fun colored papers together and add a greeting, right? But - it takes a lot of patience and skill to do them right. I am still surpri...

The UN- Paper TowelFor quite some time I was annoyed with myself for always reaching for a paper towel in the kitchen. We used them for napkins, for little spills, big spills, and to wipe my fingers off while cooking. I may not be the "greenest" person around, but it bothered...

New Jewelry -Keeping Busy in FranceI debated quite a while to decide whether or not to bring my jewelry making supplies with me to France. In then end we moved without them, and then I had them shipped over. While I've been super busy with classes, travel, visitors, etc. I have had a LOT of ...

Homesick 101Before we moved here we had some "cultural training" and we went over the normal stages of adjusting to life as an expat. So I was prepared and fully expected to be homesick while living in France. However sometimes how I fell and what I miss varies with ti...

Bonjour - Au Revoir - Fitting In (17-11-2014)Bonjour and Au Revoir -Hello and Goodbye - two French words nearly everyone in the U.S. knows. This blog is about the importance of using these words when you visit France. Also, for some reason I can't figure out, it is one of my favorite things about livi...

Shutter Up! (25-Aug-2014)I have yet to see a house in France without working shutters. Unlike the U.S. where shutters on many houses are for aesthetics only, shutters in France are used on a daily basis and serve the following purposes: Privacy: You wont walk down a residential str...

Things you'll notice - Part 1 (25-06-2014)Another quick post of some simple observations of things that are a little different in France than in the United States (at least in Iowa) It is not unusual to see two heterosexual women walking hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm. Younger people will offer their s...

Yes, No, Maybe, It Depends Part 1This post is an attempt to answer some simple questions about France with some usually simple answers. Q: Is the bread in France really as good as they say? A: YES Q: Are the deserts in France really as good as they say? A: OH YEAH Q: Is the Wine in France...

Strawberries and Raspberries with Sweet Syrup (9-06-2014)This recipe is one of the first things I learned while attending cooking classes at L'atelier de Chefs. click here to see the recipe in full . The french name translates to Soup of Strawberries and Raspberries a la Cardamon. Basically it is fresh berries...